Tourist has a chance to travel by car from Saigon to Hanoi, he has got to take the "mandarin route" (or route No.1) as it is the only one that exists on the road network in Vietnam. We owe the name of "mandarin route" to the French who named it in 19th century because it is certain that it was the road taken by mandarins and high functionaries to travel rapidly and easily between the capital and their provinces.

This route is born in the swamps of the Mekong delta infested with mosquitoes.

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City  (D)

Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Pick up and transfer to a hotel. An afternoon tour round Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon, features the History Museum, the Binh Tay Market in Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple and a lacquer workshop.Dinner in a local restaurant.O/N in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City - Phan Thiet (B / L)

Leave Saigon for Phan Thiet (220km). Hidden among coconut trees, a chain of seaside resorts attracts every taste and all ages.Lunch en route.Spend an afternoon relaxing at a resort, or roaming over coloured sand dunes at Hon Rom.The coast offers spectacular views at sunset along the Mui Ne beach drive. Golfing at an 18-hole course is optional.Dinner on your own.O/N in Phan Thiet.

Day 3: Phan Thiet - Nha Trang (B / L)

Leave for Nha Trang (250km), considered the most charming coastal town of Vietnam with a seemingly endless white sandy beach and ocean blue waters.Stop over at a semi-arid area in Phan Rang, home to Cham people and then visit the My Nghiep brocade-weaving hamlet and the Po Klong Garai Towers.After arrival in Nha Trang, the remainder of the day is a pedicab tour (1 hour) along the beachfront to the Po Nagar Towers.Dinner on your own.O/N in Nha Trang.

Day 4: Nha Trang (B, L)

Transfer to Cau Da Jetty for a day cruise to Tam Islet and Mun Islet. The water is clear and the marine life is diverse for snorkelling and sunbathing.Optional activities include scuba diving, jet skiing, wind surfing & parasailing on Tam Islet.Lunch of seafood is served on board.Dinner on your own.O/N in Nha Trang.

Day 5: Nha Trang - Qui Nhon (B / L)

Leave for Qui Nhon (250km) by car across picturesque coastal plains.Stop over at the Dai Lanh fishing village, Cham towers and coconut farms en route for snapshots.Qui Nhon, known for ruins of the ancient Cham capital of Chaban, has changed dramatically for the last few years to the new holiday destination with new resort projects.Dinner on your own.O/N in Qui Nhon.

Day 6: Qui Nhon - Hoi An (B / L)

Leave for Hoi An (250km). Stop over at Tam Ky and visit the Chien Dan Towers, a group of 3 towers built in the 13th century.The rest of the day is free time to relax by a pool side or on the sandy beach of Cua Dai.A cruise on the Thu Bon River to nearby handicraft villages (Thanh Ha, Kim Bong) is optional.Dinner on your own.O/N in Hoi An.

Day 7: Excursion to My Son (B / L)

Enjoy a day trip to explore two World Heritage sites recognised by UNESCO in 1999.First, travel over rural roads to My Son (55km), where architectural treasures and sculptures of Cham culture dating from the 7th to the 13th century can be explored.Then transfer to Hoi An, a centuries-old city with ancient houses, temples, markets and handicraft workshops.Dinner on your own.O/N in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi An - Danang - Hue (B / L)

Before leaving for Hue (140km), visit the stone-carving village of Non Nuoc and the Cham Sculpture Museum where a variety of ancient and modern sculpted articles is displayed. Admire beautiful landscape on the road through the Hai Van Pass.Panoramic views of the clouds, the sea and the mountains around are unfolded from the summit.The evening is highlighted with a Hue folk show on the Perfume River.Dinner on your own.O/N in Hue.

Day 9: Hue (B / L)

A morning tour focuses on the Imperial Citadel, built in 1804 on a site chosen in accordance with the principles of geomancy, and the Dong Ba Market, famous for its best conical hats in Vietnam.

In the afternoon, visit the tombs of King Tu Duc (ruled 1848 - 1883) and King Khai Dinh (ruled 1916 - 1925). The monuments, designed by the kings themselves, were also used as holiday retreats during their lifetime.Overland to Thien Mu Pagoda, attend the afternoon service. In the evening, a typical royal court dinner with a presentation of ancient dancing and court music is optionally arranged (minimum group size: 10). Court royal music of Nguyen Dynasty has been recognised as a world intangible heritage by UNESCO in late 2003.Dinner on your own.O/N in Hue.

Day 10: Hue - Dong Hoi (B / L)

Drive to Dong Hoi (165km), passing the former demilitarized zone (DMZ) along the Ben Hai River (1954 - 1975) where vestiges of fierce battles can be seen comprising the ruins of the old Quang Tri Citadel, Dong Ha Town, the Truong Son Cemetery and Ben Tac Bridge.Travel on Truong Son Road, nicknamed the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the north-south supply route during the Vietnam War.Dinner on your own.O/N in Dong Hoi.

Day 11: Dong Hoi - Vinh (B / L)

Before leaving for Phong Nha, wander about the Nhat Le fish Market, an ideal photo spot with sellers and buyers invariably wearing the ubiquitous conical hat. Transfer to the Xuan Son ferry landing (45km) and take a boat ride on the Son River to spectacular Phong Nha Cavern comprising Bi Ky Cave & Cung Dinh Cave.Onwards to Vinh on Truong Son Road (200km) through war vestiges.Stop by the Dong Loc T-junction, learn the story of 10 female youth volunteers who fought and sacrificed to the safe of the road under heavy bombing.Dinner on your own.O/N in Vinh.

Day 12: Vinh - Ninh Binh - Tam Coc (B / L)

Onwards to Ninh Binh (200km).Arrive in Tam coc, check in hotel.Have lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, the highlight in Ninh Binh is a sampan ride to Tam Coc, known as Vietnam's ''inland Halong Bay''. Then onwards to the Bich Dong cave pagodas dating from the 17th century.Dinner on your own.O/N in Tam Coc.

Day 13: Tam Coc - Ha Long – Overnight on Boat (B, L, D)

Transfer to Ha Long (200km).12h30: Arrive in Bai Chay warf. Welcome on board with welcome drink then check in deluxe cabin.Experience our fresh sea food set lunch while cruising.Heading to Bai Tu Long Bay.Visiting Vung Vieng Floating Fishing Village.Unique trip by traditional rowing boat to visit one destination with two great sites as Vung Vieng – Floating Fishing Village and Thung Cave (Cao Cave).Free to swim at blue and clear sea water .Heading to Ho Dong Tien (Fairy Lake) area to anchorage.Enjoy trim class of flowers from fruits and roots (Book in advance).Relax and enjoy sunset with cocktails.Enjoy set fresh sea food dinner.Film collections or Karaoke Collection (Charter only).Overnight on boat.

Day 14: Ha Long - Hanoi (B, L)

Breakfast.Visit Sung Sot Cave (Surprising Cave - the most beautiful in Halong bay.Check out and clear the bills.Book and magazines collections.Cutting flower from fruits and roots class.Transfer to Cua Vang restaurant for set Asian lunch (with fresh sea food).Enjoy lunch.Transferring back to Hanoi by private car.Arrive at your hotel around 4PM.Dinner on your own.Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 15: Hanoi (B / L)

A morning sightseeing tour features both cultural and historical highlights, comprising the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One-Pillared Pagoda, the Ethnology Museum, the Temple of Literature and the old quarters.

In the afternoon, visit the Bat Trang pottery village where artisans create superb ceramic vases and other masterpieces in their kilns.The sightseeing day ends with a pedicab ride and a water puppet show, a theatrical genre reflecting the agricultural civilization of thousands of years ago.Dinner on your own.O/N in Hanoi.

Day 16: Departure from Hanoi (B)

Spend last minutes for downtown shopping (ceramics, silver-carvings, silk,...) or at leisure before check-out.Transfer to the airport for departure.

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